New member

Gillyb

Hi everyone nice to meet you I’ve been struggling for ten years now and getting worse , I’m by no means as bad as many many people and my heart goes out to them but my pain is bad enough to make me cry every day and at times I feel that people think I’m ‘ putting it on ‘
Why is it that I have to try and prove how bad I am ?
I’m lucky I don’t look my age but this means people think I’m able to do things they can and that a paracetamol will help me ! .............. I wish. 😊

YvonneH

Hi @Gillyb

and very nice to meet you too. I'm very glad you have found our online community, now yours too, hear you will find friends who do understand when you are in pain. You aren't putting anything on, stop thinking that, you are trying very hard not to 'bother' everyone - and then feeling not believed on top is not good.

What type of arthritis are you with, they have different likes and dislikes, eg warm is good for osteoarthritis and cold is good for inflammatory arthritis when a joint is red and swollen. Then we would be able to help a bit better. I spent a good while telling doctors off when they said 'well you are getting on now' at 45! However now I'm in my 60's they can say it with abandon, it still doesn't help. Have you been to a GP or consultant yet, if not then you should still see if you can talk to your gp about pain relief. Here's our information on pain relief

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2019/june/getting-to-grips-with-arthritis-pain/

Are you still going out to work? Is your arthritis worse right now? Do keep posting, you can share anything you wish, have a moan if you like we all do at times and it's better to get it out there and move on.

If you want to chat to someone, please think about calling our helpline on 0800 5200 520, they are there from 9am - 8pm on Monday to Friday.

Take care

Yvonne x

dreamdaisy

Hello, I am in my 24th year of arthritis and my eighth week of shielding. It isn't fun but lfe rarely is and in many ways things could be worse.

I don't see the point in geting grumpy about it, I have a progressive and degenerative disease and that's that. The first arthritis (psoriatic) was thanks to my genetic inheritance and that one caused the second, osteo. I am now 61 so finally crawling into the popular age bracket to have the 'old person's disease', hurrah! Arthritis has changed how I live my life but it will not change what I get from it, I prefer to show people how able I am rather than how disabled. What sort do you have? DD

Froglet

Hello. I joined a couple of months ago, then went to a couple of local meetings, but then went to have my knee replacement done as I was lucky and was offered a cancellation, yes just before this horrible virus started. I was more or less pushed out of the hospital as they clearly wanted my bed and the nurses caring for me. I didn't mind though, I had my new knee, (selfish I know), but I think I was one of the last ones. I had it done in a private hospital paid for by the NHS. I worked for the NHS for nearly 20 years and was medically retired due to bullying twice, but my heart is still with the NHS. In fact they emailed me and asked me to return, but of course I couldn't return due to my knee and although my heart said yes, my brain said no.

I am now recovering at home and have my husband with me due to the virus, so looking on the plus sides if there are any of course. I invested in building a cattery in my garden in 2017, retired and it was doing well, nearly 3 years old, but of course this pandemic hit us, but I shouldn't complain as there are many more in much worse positions than me and I am recovering at home. I should have been on a cruise now, but again never mind, prefer to be at home during this pandemic, at least we are safe and secure.

A long Hello, but felt I should tell you a little about me. I am 60 years old in June and we probably won't be able to have a party, but hey ho, I am at home and well. My knee is getting better each day, still have pain and especially at night, so I am very interested to learn about others and their surgery and know if there are people near me, who hopefully when we get back to sort of normality I could meet and grow friendships.

I look forward to hearing from you and others too.

Best wishes to you all and do take care.

Chris 😃

YvonneH

Hello @Froglet

Welcome to the forum, great to meet you. I am very pleased you managed to get your total knee replacement in before the cancellations took place. I've also had a TKR and find it so much better than the old knee. Daisy is brilliant, not quite as good as a proper fully functioning bone knee but I can now do so much more as well as the pain of bone on bone has gone.

I hope you are able to keep doing the exercises you were given. You have to stop the scar tissue building up in the wrong places where it can stop your knee functioning properly. I still do my exercises today, they have kept old knee 2 going for a lot longer than otherwise and I'm trying to wait as long as possible for the next replacement.

That's great that you have your husband at home with you now, has he retired or working from home or on furlough? I have 4 cats so clearly I like the idea of a cattery - and from home too, the best of working for yourself with no travel costs!

You will make lots of friends on here I am sure, with your knowledge of osteoarthritis and having a TKR there are a number of people waiting to go for an operation or who are newly diagnosed with OA that would benefit from your support. I'll be looking out for your next posts, maybe in the gardening thread since you must have a fairly large garden?

Take care

Yvonne x

I have edited your text, just to remove your surname, it's best to be a bit cautious giving our too much personal information.

Froglet

Many thanks for your welcome message. I will take note regarding exercises but I do daily too and walk a little further each day too.

frogmorton

Another Frog? @Froglet ??

Welcome from me too!

I'm so glad you were lucky enough to get your knee done and if you feel up to it when you are recovered I think the NHS will still need help. Think of all the staff who will be desperate for Annual Leave by then bless them.

I desperately want to help too (Social Worker) but have the additional problem of a lung condition too now. I know how you feel :)

Hello to @Gillyb I am so sorry to hear how much you are suffering and just want to send you a virtual ((()))

I have no idea why some people don't believe when you say you are in pain. You know what? Unless they are family I thought long and hard about some of those in my life and ditched a few people who dragged me down. Some of them were 'competing' to be the worst and i didn't need it!!

Keep coming in here we understand no judging either!

Froglet

Thank you for your messages and welcome. I have been busy recently in the garden and exercising my knee. Just had a call from my surgeon who seemed happy with my progress and my physiotherapist rang me yesterday who also seemed happy and sent me an email with some new exercises so will continue to work hard at getting my knee back to normal as can be.

As I run my own cattery from home, its very important to me, as we have the virus presently we are of course closed, so gives me time to rest.

BW Chris

wazz42

Hi Froglet,

That is wonderful news that you are doing so well, and a reward of new exercises, what more could you ask 😀

Do you have any pets of your own? IF you do you might be interested in the pets discussion in the Chit Chat area

xx

frogmorton

Thanks for reminding me wazz42 I will post a pic of my pusskin on that thread!

Well done Chris for your recovery I am glad physio and consultant are pleased with you 🐈️

Toni x